Electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve chain

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

1. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:
 placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient; 
 applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and 
 adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to mimic the effect of beta blockers. 
 
   
   
     2. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:
 placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient; 
 applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and 
 adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to release tissue plasminogen activator. 
 
   
   
     3. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:
 placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient; 
 applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and 
 adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to modulate angiotensin. 
 
   
   
     4. A method of establishing or complementing a pattern in a patient's neuro-endocrinological system in order to treat heart disease comprising:
 placing an electrode in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient, said at least one ganglion being associated with the patient's endocrinological system; and 
 applying an electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the at least one ganglion to thereby establish or complement a pattern in the patient's endocrinological system, 
 wherein the step of applying the electric signal results in an up-regulation of a receptor of an endogenous chemical associated with the patient's endocrinological system. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one ganglion is selected from the group consisting of T-1 through T-4 ganglia, cervical ganglia, and combinations thereof 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising administering an amount of a pharmaceutical agent to the patient to complement the pattern established in the patient's endocrinological system. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of applying the electric signal results in an up-regulation of a receptor of the pharmaceutical agent. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the an up-regulation of the receptor of the pharmaceutical agent occurs during periods of rest to thereby complement the increased release of neuro-hormones during periods of patient activity. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the up-regulation of the receptor of an endogenous chemical occurs during periods of rest to thereby complement the increased release of neuro-hormones during periods of patient activity. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of an ACE inhibitor and a beta blocker. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the amount of the pharmaceutical agent is determined based upon the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of the at least one ganglion. 
   
   
     12. A method for complementing or establishing a pattern in a neuro-endocrinological system in a patient in need thereof comprising:
 placing one or more electrodes in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient; 
 supplying an electric signal to the one or more electrodes to stimulate at least one ganglion to complement or establish a pattern in the patient's neuro-endocrinological system; 
 monitoring levels of endogenous chemicals in the patient; and 
 adjusting, based on the monitoring, the application of the electric signal to the one or more electrodes to modulate levels of the endogenous chemicals in the patient. 
 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising controlling delivery of a therapeutically active compound to the patient based on the levels of endogenous chemicals released.